MTT assay measures:
MTT assay developed by Tim Mosmann in 1983 measures cell viability and proliferation based on reduction capacity of living cells. Principle uses yellow tetrazolium salt 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide which enters cells via endocytosis and is reduced by mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase of complex II and cytosolic NAD(P)H-dependent oxidoreductases cleaving tetrazolium ring with electrons from NADH and NADPH producing insoluble purple formazan crystals accumulating intracellularly in mitochondria and lipid droplets. Metabolically incompetent dead cells fail to r
Ref: Mosmann T J Immunol Methods 1983 MTT viability assay; ATCC MTT Cell Proliferation Assay mitochondrial dehydrogenase reduction protocol.